This morning our trip did not start until 8:00 am, so we invited Colin & Hilda to come over for breakfast at our campsite. We served the famous Costco raisin buns, bacon, fruit and fresh perked coffee.
While Bill cleaned up, the others went for a short walk and discovered a House Wren and Black-capped Chickadee along with our resident Eastern Towhee.
Then we met Doug Pedwell and the rest of the group at the Visitor Centre and began our convoy to the Greenock Swamp. This was a general nature ramble but a couple of keen birders helped us spot things. As Doug showed us the maps at the trailhead, a Mourning Warbler sang continuously right above us, but did not come out for a sighting. But a pair of American Goldfinches put on a show.
The walk was not very birdy until we got to the wet area where we saw a Least Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Vireo, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Scarlet Tanager. We also saw a couple of Green Frogs, a Bull Frog and a Red Admiral butterfly.
Returning to the trailhead, we saw a Song Sparrow and Indigo Bunting.
We drove a short way to Chepstow Park for lunch where they had picnic tables and a washroom.
After lunch, we returned to the same trailhead, but took a different trail that led shortly to a floating board walk. We saw an Eastern Garter Snake and an Eastern Kingbird.
Returning to the trailhead, the Mourning Warbler was still singing. Bill played the song and it came out at once. But only Hilda got a photo, as it was chased away by a Song Sparrow.
We also saw an Eastern Bluebird which had a nest box near the house and also another House Wren. Some thought that Vesper Sparrows were in the fields, but all we got in our photos were Chipping Sparrows, a Rose-breasted Grosbeak and a Common Grackle.
At the end of the afternoon, we guided Colin & Hilda to our Golden-winged Warbler spot, but only an American Redstart came by to see us. Then on the way to the Visitor Centre, we saw a Scarlet Tanager on the road. Incredibly, it did not fly away as we opened the car doors and got photos.
From there, we went directly to the Visitor Centre for our Chicken Dinner in a tent followed by a stroll to the beach.
Our day ended with Justin Peter’s talk about birding in Gambia and Senegal.
